Chapter 35

By the middle of January, Kara was experiencing frequent Braxton-Hicks pains, as her body prepared for the coming labor. Tara and Willow came over, and they thoroughly researched the most effective protection spells from here and Ossiriand, and the house was further shielded. Power crystals were buried around the perimeter that would activate a physical shield with the correct words, just in case. Spike started trying to convince Kara to give birth in Ossiriand. He didn't like her leaving the house for any reason.

"I'm not going to be made a prisoner in my own home!" Kara shouted, in another argument with her mate.

"I'm not saying you're a prisoner! We're no further to finding out why Wolfram and Hart tried to take you than we were two weeks ago. Which means you're not safe, Kara! I've talked to every contact I know, and nothing!"

"Ever think that maybe they don't want to tell you the truth? It's probably not a secret that we're mated. If Wolfram and Hart is as big and bad as you say, then they probably have everybody on the take! We need to make someone sing."

"I already thought of that. Why do you think I've gotten blood on my shirts three nights this week? Nobody knows the plan!"

"So, I'll blow up the building. Problem solved," she shrugged.

"Are you completely out of your bleedin' mind! Multi-dimensional demon law firm! They'd be back in business in a week!"

"So, what? I hide in this house for the rest of eternity? No frickin' thank you, Spike! I AM A GODDESS! And I remember the Wolf, Ram, and Hart. They were a pissant group too cowardly to openly challenge anyone for territory. They were weak, and just as likely to turn on each other as anybody else. If they want a war, I'll give them one, and frankly, you can't stop me." The air around her crackled with power, and made his skin crawl, hairs standing on end. Kara paced, until an idea struck her. She shifted into a new form, a hybrid of feline and human. Spike was taken aback at the sight of the new being.

"Kara?" he said cautiously. "What are you doing, pet?"

"I'm going to put an end to this – 'challenge' – once and for all. I don't think they've had any idea who they were messing with, but they will now," she replied, her voice an animalistic version of her own. "I'll be back by dinner, honey."

Kara vanished, leaving a very worried Spike behind, unable to feel where she had gone.

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"Hi, Yavanna," the strange voice purred, startling her in her own kitchen. She jumped and turned to face the newcomer.

"Kalari?"

Before Yavanna stood a six-foot cat/woman hybrid with glowing blue eyes. She was covered in fine black fur, and strangely beautiful.

"What happened to you? And how come you don't look pregnant?"

"I just shape-shifted, duh. I need your help, as an emissary of the PTBs."

"Okay…what can I do?"

"I want to challenge Wolfram and Hart in the dimensional courts. I need a neutral judge. Can you find me one now?"

Yavanna sighed. "We can try. Methos is probably available. What's your beef with Wolfram and Hart?"

"They sent commandos to kidnap me on New Year's Eve. Ruined a very fun evening, and sent my mate into an extremely over-protective tizzy. I don't care whom at the L.A. branch thought it would be fun to play with me. It ends now."

"Well, what are we waiting for, then? Let's go." Yavanna opened a portal to another dimension, and the two disappeared.

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"No, I don't know where to start, Glinda. Just do the locator spell. Hold the crystal over a bloody globe, if you have to. You didn't see how she was."

"Okay, Spike. Just try to calm down. We'll do our best. I'm sure Kara's fine."

"Yeah, whatever. Just hurry."

Spike slammed the phone down, and resumed wearing a hole in the carpet. He hated this feeling. Kara had completely cut him off. He felt like he was missing an arm, or his heart. After six months of feeling her in his head every day, the quiet was driving him mad. Why did she have to be so damned stubborn? And why not take him along? They were a team, partners for eternity. He'd sooner dust than let her go into battle alone.

He stopped, the realization sobering him. That's what she was afraid of.

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"You have a grievance for the Inter-dimensional Court?"

"I do, Your Honor, against Wolfram and Hart. I wish for a representative to be summoned, so they may hear the charges," Kara stated.

The judge pointed to the defendant's box, and a figure obscured in a black hooded robe appeared.

"Who dares to summon us from our home?" it hissed.

"You represent Wolfram and Hart?"

"Yes…" it warily agreed.

"Kalari Elbereth of Ossiriand has a grievance against your group."

"What are the charges? As far as we knew, she was dead!"

Kara dropped a document on the desk in front of the robed figure. She held back the shiver that erupted from being so close to such darkness.

"It's all there. My problem is with your Los Angeles branch, on Earth, unless this was sanctioned by you?" she stated.

"We know nothing of this," it hissed again. "We appeal to the court for a brief recess to confer with our associates."

"Agreed. You have one hour, and not a second more," the judge intoned.

The robed figured vanished with the document.

"Methos, it's good to see how far you've come," Kara said. "You were just a boy when I went to sleep."

"It is an honor, Kalari. Your family is legendary, and still regarded highly in the Hall of Records. I'm sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. May I ask what woke you?"

"Destiny. Pure and simple. It was just the right time."

The two ancient beings smiled in understanding of these things. Kara had a seat back at the table and propped her feet up. Yavanna smirked and shook her head.

"You're learning bad habits from that mate of yours. The Kalari I knew never would have put her feet on the furniture," she teased.

"This is all me, dear. I hope they're back in under an hour. I'm bored and hungry.

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"We have conferred with the CEO of the Los Angeles branch, Your Honor, and the action committed on the date stated in this document was against one Kara Taylor, not the Goddess Kalari Elbereth."

"You're only half right," Kara replied. "If you look under Plaintiff, on said document, you will see that I am also Kara Taylor of Earth. My essence was joined with her body in 2001, Your Honor."

"You can prove this for the Court?"

"May I?" Kara gestured to the memory cube displayed on the Judge's bench.

"Approach."

Kara set her hand on the cube, and the scene of her elevation played out in the room, projected for all to see.

"Your testimony is accepted. Proceed with your case, Kalari."

"Thank you, Your Honor. I ask the Court to sanction Wolfram and Hart from any further interference or action in my life. This was an unprovoked attack, most likely for profitable gain. I expect full punishment for whoever was involved. Wolfram and Hart knows that an attack on our Sovereign Person is forbidden under the Treaty of their Surrender in the 2nd Age. It is within my rights to engage in full-scale war for this outrage."

"This is absurd! We had no knowledge that Kalari Elbereth even still existed! The plan originating from our Los Angeles branch was standard business, nothing more!"

"The defendant will lower his voice, or be fined for contempt! As for the charges, I will review both of your testimonies and weigh the evidence. Court will adjourn for one standard hour."

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"She's not on this plane, Spike, I'm sorry. You're just going to have to wait for Kara to return."

"Damnit! Bloody fucking hell!" he swore. "Sorry, luv. I know you tried your best. Thanks, Glinda."

"You're welcome, Spike. That's what friends do."

She hung up the line, leaving a vampire touched by her words.

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"Be seated. In the case of Kalari Elbereth vs. Wolfram and Hart, we find Wolfram and Hart guilty. However, the truth also shows that they are only guilty of actions against the personage of 'Kara Taylor', and have not expressly violated the terms of your treaty. Punishment will therefore be enacted against the beings responsible at the Los Angeles office. Wolfram and Hart will deliver these individuals for sentencing without further delay.

Do you find the ruling agreeable, Kalari Elbereth?"

"It is satisfactory, Your Honor, provided that this kind of insult does not happen again."

"Very well. Wolfram and Hart, you will make arrangements with the bailiff. Court adjourned."

"Finally," Yavanna said under her breath.

Kara hissed in warning to the robed figure, and then they left.

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"Hey," Kara said softly, as she walked into the bedroom. Spike closed his book and waited for her explanation. She was back to looking like a pregnant human again.

"Where did you go?" he asked coolly.

"The inter-dimensional court. It's the only entity Wolfram and Hart will submit to, out of fear."

"And?"

"And…it's settled. The people, or demons, behind the attack are being punished as we speak, and Wolfram and Hart can't come after me again without violating the treaty they signed in the 2nd Age of Ossiriand. We cleaned their clocks for attempting to breach our dimension."

"So, you're safe, then. Good, I can sleep now. Good night, Kara." Spike switched off the lamp at his side of the bed and rolled to put his back to her, shutting her out.

"You're mad at me," she stated.

"Good night, Kara."

"You're not even going to talk to me about it?"

"Not tonight."

"Fine." Kara left the room to go down to the kitchen. Now, who's being stubborn? The sun was barely down, but he wanted to sleep. Right. Kara started working on dinner, banging the cabinets as she went.

She muttered to herself as she chopped the vegetables. The claim told her that Spike wasn't asleep, yet, despite wanting to be. He couldn't be the least bit happy that she had found a peaceful solution to the whole mess. Oh, no, he had to sulk because he'd been left at home. Not that he would have been allowed to come, anyway. Only true Immortals were allowed to petition the Court. Lesser beings could only reach the dimension by being summoned by the judge. These were ancient laws far older than she was.

"Hey, I brought the recording of the punishment. Methos sent it along once they were through," Yavanna said as she appeared. "Wow, your aura is positively sparking. What's got you so pissed?"

"My mate, who's being a big baby and refusing to talk to me."

"What'd you do now?"

"Me! I got Wolfram and Hart to leave me alone. That's what I did today." Kara sighed noisily. "I get that he wants to keep me safe, but he hasn't let me go anywhere on my own for 2 weeks. Yeah, I'm petite, and yeah, I'm pregnant – but I'm not defenseless! Maybe he'll ease up on me once the twins are finally born. I'm basically due any day, and I'm about to start doing jumping jacks every morning just to get things moving."

"Hey, I don't blame you for wanting your body back. You won't ever see me try to reproduce."

"Now, that's a funny thought."

"What is?" Yavanna asked.

"You with a baby. The first smelly diaper would have you running away screaming! Don't worry, Yavanna. I won't ask you to baby sit until they're at least five," Kara teased.

"Thank heavens for that. At least at that age, I can take them shopping!"

"Wanna stay for dinner?"

"Sure, then I don't have to cook."

"And by 'cook', you mean call for takeout?"

"You know me so well."

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Okay, so Kara's not exactly the nicest in this chapter, but one, she's majorly hormonal, and two, she and Kalari aren't/weren't exactly alike, so when Kara taps into that power, she ends up more like this. Please review, guys. I really appreciate them!